Body protector



M. VOYNE BODY PROTECTOR Sgpt. 2, 1930.

Filed Aug. -22, 1928 ATTORNEYS. V

Patented Sept. 2, l930 UNITED? STATES MECHIAL VOYNE, OF SALI V FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIG'N'OR TO A. G. SPALDIHG 85 PATENT OFFICE BROSL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY BODY PROTECTOR Application filed August 22, 1928. Serial No. 301,389.

' This invention relates to improvements in body protectors for football players and those engaged in similar games. In the playing of football, it is desirable to have protection for the hips, lower ribs and smallof the back, particularly in the area'of' the kidneys, which portion of the body quite frequently receives serious injuryrin a game of this sort; Various protectors have been heretofore produced for the purpose described, but they have consisted in large measure of padded rigid plates disposed over the region of the kidneys but nevertheless in direct contact with the body at such areas. Such prior constructions have been found to be defective in furnishing the needed protection to the kid-' ney because a I blow may be transmitted through the plate with sufiicient force to cause injury. A blow which would not 0rd1- narily be considered serious for any part of the body in the region of the hips is likely to have serious effects when transmitted to the kidney, as it is by the ordinary protector heretofore used.

A principal feature of this invention, therefore, is'a protecting device comprising. a substantially rigid plate adapted to embrace the hips and waist of a wearer for the protection thereof and which is provided with means for spacing the plate away from the body at a point over the kidney so thata'blow struck against the plate will not be imparted to the body at the kidney but in the bordering region only.

The invention in the form at present preferred consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts now to be describedand which is illustrated by means of the accompanying. drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a protector which has incorporated therein the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a View showing how the protector is worn by an athlete.

By reference to the drawings in detail, the invention will now be described. The protector comprises a pair. of similar garment 50 sections 2 and 4, each of which consists of their mar inal edges by stitching.

marginal edges of the plates to provide holding pockets therefor, which pockets serve to locate the plates over the kidneys of the wearer. The plates preferably consist of some relatively stiff material. such as papiermach, fiber board, sole leather or the like. These plates are preferably formed after the manner shown so that when the protector is in place they overlie and embrace the hips and lower waist and permit free relative movements of the body above the hips and of the limbs below the waist line. The plates are also preferably contoured to correspond to the curvature of the body and to fit snugly there-around.

Reslhent or yieldable kidney cushion pads I; of sponge rubber, felt or the like are provided for each plate so as to be interpose be tween said plate and the body of the wearer. The pads K are preferably secured by stitching at their marginal edges to the inner cover of material forming the section as shown in Fig. 2 so as to be contained within the pockets and held in proper position on said plates 10. These pads K are preferably in the form of a ring-like, elliptical annulus and are disposed with reference to the sections so that the open center thereof will be located at that part of the body which is directly over the kidneys when the protector is in place, as shown in Fig. 3. By being formed in the shape shown and disposed in the particular location indicated, these pads function to space the protector plates from the body at points directly over the kidneys so that when blow is delivered to the plate at this point its effect is cushioned and distributed to the Plates 10 are secured between the sure from being tranannitted and adjacent the marginal e body around or circunijacent the kidney rather than directly to the body portion (Werlying the kidney, as would be the case it the entire surface of the plate were in contact with the body. Also, whenever a blow is delivered to any part. oil the plate, the kidney pads K absorb and cushion the force thereof and prevent the r-ti'ects being transmitted to the body at a point over the kidney.

Layer pads 12 and 121 of felt or ol some other suitable padding material are seemed to the lower marginal edges of the sect-ions and serve to act as cushioning means tor-the body below the waist line, and of course may be formed in any desired shape to accomplish the desired purposes. The pad 13, if desired, may be extended upwardly over the elastic portion 3.

As will be observed, the protector coinprises joined together sections for embracing the hips and lower rib-s, e ch of which sections includes a snbsflantially non-yieldable protecting 'ilate tor the hips which is spaced from the body in Zones around t o 't'lllll par s so as to protect those pa; inst the cilia-ts ol a blow applied to any pa i of the plate.

lhe pads k may be made in other terms and shape than shown in order to space the plate ll'tilli the body at points over the kidnc. and jjlHYtlllt the eti'rz'ts of a blow transmitted to the kidney and varion:-v o equivalent forms of the kidney protcclor may be employed "for accomplishing the purpose described and therelorr do not wish to be limited to the exact form oi the invention shown and described.

il bat l claim and desire to secure by Ketters Patent is:

'l. A body protector for too lnil players and the like adapted to be secured around the waist of the wearer adjacent the hips and comprising in coinljiinaiion, side plates of hard relatively rigid character titteo for the sides of the body. a :l uln-ic cover for said plates, an elastic connecting member for said plates and covers. an annular cushioning pad associated with each of said plat and covers tor contacting with the body around the region of the kidneys to prevent blows or through said plates directly to the kid e of the wearer, and cushioning pads iztllitrt'l by said covers at. the marginal edges thoreo'l' tor wiintz'acting with the body regions outi de the plate.

2. A kidney protector for football. players and the like coniprie-ring two plates of relatively rigid and hard materiail one for each side 01" the body. inner and outer l'abric covers tor said plates utitiiihed too 4her beyond k of said plates to provide holding pockets for said plates and serving to locate said plates over the kidneys of the wearer, each plate having within its pocket and interposed between it and the body of the wearer an annular cushioning pad which bears against body portions of the wearer circumjacent the kidney.

3. A kidney protector for football players and the like comprising two plates of relatively rigid and hard material one for each side of the body, inner and outer "fabric covers for said plates stitched together beyond and adj aeent the marginal edges of said plates to provide holding pockets for said plates and serving to locate said plates over the kidneys of the wearer, each plate having interposed between it and the body of the wearer an annular cushioning pad which bears against body portions of the wearer circumjacent the kidney, and means for securing said annular cushoning pads to said inner fabric cover and within said pockets for positioning the same on said plates.

l. A kidney protector for football players and the like, comprising a pair of garment sections adapted to be secured around the waist of the wearer adjacent the hips, each section comprising an inner and outer tabrie cover secured hagether and providing a pocket, a plate of relatively rigid and hard material tree of attachment to said fabric cover and. positioned within said pocket and over the region oil? the wearers kidney, a thick annular pad of 'ushioning material secured adjacent the inner side of said plate for hearing against the body of the wearer circnnrjacent the kidney and providing a free space between said plate and the body of the wearer overlying the kidney.

5. A kidney protector for football 'ilayers and the like, comprising a. pair of garn'ient sections adapted to be secured around the waist of the wearer adjacent the hips, each section comprising an inner and outer tabric cover secured together and providing a pocket near the upper portion thereof, a plate of relatively rigid and hard material positioned within said pocket and over the region of the wearers kidney, a thick annular pad of cushioning material secured adjacent ti o inner side of said plate for hearing against the body of the wearer circumjacent the kidney and providin a free space between said plate and the body of the wearer overlying the kidney, and a layer pad of cushioning material extending from the lower marginal edge of said pocket portion and substantially coextensive in thickness with the depth of said pocket portitm.

In testimony whereof I have atlixed my signature.

IXIECHIAL VOYNE. 

